TextAge is a photographic study of how our global culture has become affixed to mobile communication devices. Cell phones have become like living extensions attached to our bodies going literally everywhere we do. Texting has completely changed the way we socialize with our friends, co workers, family and other acquaintances in the way we receive and distribute information instantaneously. We now have the ability to share our immediate feelings and observations with as many people as we'd like and anywhere throughout the world at the touch of a small keypad. We can also do this with a certain amount of anonymity and lack of human to human contact. Gone are the days where we need to summon the courage to quit our jobs, break up with a boyfriend, ask a favor, borrow money, or tell someone they look beautiful, while looking them in the eye. Communication is much more than just the spoked or written word. Facial expression, posture, voice inflexions are all elements that are slowly dying due to our phones.
The inspiration for these photographs came from seeing my 15 year old at a party she was having at our home last year. I couldn't help but notice that all the normal social activities, from the incessant talk about cute boys, teachers they hated, other girls that were giving them attitude, and a bit about their overbearing parents, were all centered around texting their other friends in different locations. There just seemed to be a disconnect with enjoying the moment with the friends that were there. Everyone seemed to be having text conversations with other friends elsewhere. Now I am a child of the 70's and 80's so this still seems odd. When you were with your friends, you were there, body and mind.
So with this in mind, I started to really notice how unsocial we have become while out in social situations. Being a photojournalist is nice for a project like this because I get to bounce around from assignment to assignment and see many different events as well as all kind of people from various walks of life. I'd be at a nightclub, at Disneyland, Fairs, sporting events, and many other venues that were meant for socializing and entertaining and see people affixed to their phones, texting away and just generally missing life's experiences at that moment.
The primary question I think I'm trying to answer is "How is texting affecting our ability to live life in the moment and how has this device changed the way we socialize"

Tijuana Texter